EU: Energy Council

Baroness Verma: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In advance of the forthcoming Energy Council in Brussels on 4 March, I am writing to outline the agenda items to be discussed.
	There will be two policy debates at the Council. The first will be on the Commission’s communication on energy prices and costs in Europe, which analyses the impact of the decarbonisation of the energy sector on energy prices for households and industry. The Communication charts rises in electricity and gas prices and costs and the price differential between the EU and its competitors. It also examines the potential risks to energy intensive industries. The Communication argues for actions to reduce energy costs including completion of the internal market, action to improve competition in the retail markets, and improving energy efficiency. The importance of cost effective climate and energy policies is reinforced.
	The UK will argue that the EU needs to do more to tackle high energy costs through more efficient and competitive markets, early agreement and a cost effective approach to the 2030 climate and energy framework, support for industrial energy efficiency, and diversification of energy supplies.
	The second debate will be on the Commission’s Communication setting out a climate and energy policy framework for 2030. The proposed framework is based on an overarching binding domestic greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030 of 40% and an EU-level renewable energy target of 27%. The renewable energy target would not include binding national targets, in contrast to the 2020 framework.
	The Communication also proposes a new governance process, based on national plans. The plans would set out how each Member State intends to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target, including, in particular, planned levels of renewables and energy efficiency.
	The UK will emphasise the need for early political agreement on the 2030 framework. The UK considers the 40% GHG target proposed by the Commission a good start, but will argue that the EU needs to go further - up to 50% - in the event of an ambitious global climate deal.
	The UK particularly welcomes the Commission’s recognition of our argument that countries must be allowed to decarbonise in the cheapest way possible. However, the UK remains concerned to ensure that a renewables target binding at an individual Member State is fully ruled out and is seeking greater clarity on this.
	The UK also has questions about how an EU-wide renewables target and the proposed governance process would work in practise. We will work closely with European partners to discuss the details, but will continue to argue that Member States should retain full flexibility over their choice of energy mix to deliver their GHG targets.

EU: Foreign Affairs Council

Baroness Warsi: My Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Europe (David Lidington) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:
	My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council called to discuss Ukraine on 20 February in Brussels, chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton of Upholland. Commissioner Füle (Enlargement) was also in attendance.
	Foreign Affairs Council
	A provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted can be found at:
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/141113.pdf
	Ukraine
	Ministers met on 20 February for an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council to decide on the EU’s response to the rapidly worsening situation in Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary said that the EU needed to react strongly and do what we could to stop the violence. He argued that the sanctions should be swift, well targeted and effective.
	The Council agreed Conclusions, which condemned in the strongest terms all use of violence, and called for those responsible for grave human rights violations to be brought to justice, and which set in train EU sanctions including assets freezes and a visa ban for those responsible for violence. In addition, a ban on equipment that might be used for internal repression was also agreed. The Conclusions recalled that the EU remained ready to support Ukraine in the process of reform to deliver a stable, prosperous and democratic future for its citizens.
	The Foreign Secretary’s statement to the House on 24 February (24 February 2014, Official Report, column 26) set out how UK policy has developed to take account of the dramatic changes in Ukraine over the previous weekend.

Finance Bill 2014

Lord Deighton: My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (David Gauke) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Finance Bill will be published on Thursday 27 March.
	Explanatory notes on the Bill will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office and placed in the Libraries of both Houses on that day. Copies of the Explanatory Notes will be available on HM Treasury’s website.

Machinery of Government Change: Energy-using Products

Lord Hill of Oareford: My Rt Hon. friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:
	This written ministerial statement confirms that policy responsibility for Energy-Using Products will transfer from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Department for Energy and Climate Change. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, the UK's interests in the lEA Implementing Agreement on Energy Efficient End-use Equipment (4E) and the Super-efficient Deployment Initiative (SEAD); the Ecodesign Directive (20091125/EC) and Energy Labelling Directive (2010/30/EU), and the UK regulations which transpose them (SI 2010/2617 and Sl 2011/1524, both as amended), and associated market surveillance activities; and the UK's role as project co-ordinator for the European Ecopliant project.

Northern Ireland: On-the-Runs Scheme

Baroness Randerson: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Theresa Villiers) has made the following Written Statement:
	On Tuesday 25 February I laid before the House a statement relating to the High Court judgment in the case of John Downey. I would now like to update the House on the administrative scheme set up by the previous government to deal with so- called “on-the-runs” (OTRs).
	On coming to office in May 2010 the Government was made aware of a list of names submitted by Sinn Fein to the previous Government under an agreement they had reached to clarify the status of OTRs.
	These were people living outside the United Kingdom who believed that if they returned they would be wanted by the police for questioning in connection with terrorist offences committed before the Belfast Agreement.
	Under the scheme the police, and in some cases the Public Prosecution Service, checked whether sufficient evidence existed in each case at that time for these individuals to be questioned, arrested or prosecuted if they returned to Northern Ireland or any other part of the United Kingdom.
	If it was found that they were not wanted by the police and that there was no prospect of any prosecution based on the evidence then available, the individuals were informed of that fact by letter from a Northern Ireland Office official.
	The letters did not amount to immunity, exemption or amnesty from arrest. The letters made this clear. That remains the case. No recipient of such a letter should be in any doubt that if evidence emerges after the date the letter was issued in connection with terrorist offences committed before the Belfast Agreement they will be liable for arrest and prosecution.
	It was on this basis that the current Government in May 2010 agreed that the list of names submitted by Sinn Fein to the previous administration could continue to be checked.
	If at any time we had been presented with a scheme that amounted to immunity, exemption or amnesty, we would have stopped that scheme – consistent with the opposition of both coalition parties to the previous Government’s Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill in 2005.
	We believe in the application of the rule of law and due process, regardless of whether a person is in possession of a letter or would be eligible for early release under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
	We will take whatever steps are necessary to make clear to all recipients of letters arising from the administrative scheme, in a manner that will satisfy the Courts and the public, that any letters issued cannot be relied upon to avoid questioning or prosecution for offences where information or evidence becomes available now or later.
	In light of the error identified in the case of John Downey, the Prime Minister announced on Thursday 27 February that he would appoint a judge to provide an independent review of the administrative scheme.
	The aim of the review will be to produce a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for OTRs; to determine whether any letters sent through the scheme contained errors; and to make recommendations as necessary on this or related matters that are drawn to the attention of the inquiry.
	The person conducting the review will have full access to all Government papers about the operation of the scheme. They will be free to interview key individuals in the civil service and the police and any others where those individuals are willing.
	The report should be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Overseas Security and Justice Assistance

Baroness Warsi: My right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (William Hague), has made the following written Ministerial statement:
	I would like to inform the House that I have today published revised Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Guidance.
	Demand for UK security and justice assistance continues to grow. Our expertise is highly valued across the world and improves the standards and capabilities of law enforcement and security agencies operating in the most challenging environments. Through this work
	we aim to improve security and increase respect for the rule of law. However, it is important that we ensure that the skills and expertise we impart are not used to cause harm. The OSJA Guidance is HMG’s tool for assessing the human rights risks of our overseas security and justice assistance work and identifying measures to mitigate such risks.
	On 15 December 2011, I announced the introduction of the Guidance and our intention to review it the following year. Following this review, we have made some minor amendments to the Guidance to clarify key points, including defining more clearly the circumstances in which the Guidance should be applied and highlighting the additional assessments against the EU and National Consolidated Criteria that need to be undertaken if the assistance involves the provision of equipment which is controlled under Export Control legislation.
	Today’s publication of the revised Guidance reflects our continued determination to ensure that when we provide overseas security and justice assistance, we do so in a manner that promotes human rights and democracy.
	I have placed a copy of the revised Guidance in the libraries of both Houses. The Guidance is also available online at www.gov.uk.

UK Statistics Authority: Contingencies Fund Advance

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My honourable friend the Minister for Civil Society (Nick Hurd MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Cabinet Office wishes to report that a cash advance from the contingencies Fund has been sought for the UK Statistics Authority (referred to as the Statistics Board in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007). The advance is required to meet an urgent cash requirement on services pending Parliamentary approval of the 2013-14 Supplementary Estimate. The Supplementary Estimate seeks an increase on net cash requirement in order to settle material liabilities arising from a reserve claim. Parliamentary approval for additional resources of seven million, seven hundred thousand pounds (£7,700,000) and additional capital of seven million three hundred thousand pounds (£7,300,000) has been sought in the Supplementary Estimate for the UK Statistics Authority. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at five million pounds (£5,000,000) will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.
	The advance will be repaid upon Royal Assent of the Supply and Appropriation Bill.

Wales: Devolution

Baroness Randerson: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Wales (David Jones) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	The Government established the Commission on Devolution in Wales (the Silk Commission) in October 2011 with the support and full engagement of the Welsh Government and all four parties in the National Assembly for Wales.
	The Silk Commission reported on the first part of its remit in November 2012, recommending the devolution of fiscal powers to the National Assembly for Wales (“the Assembly”). The Government is implementing almost all of the Silk Commission’s recommendations, and will bring forward a Wales Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows to devolve tax and borrowing powers to Wales. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee reported last week on its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill in draft, and the Government is carefully considering the recommendations which the Committee has made.
	I can inform the House that the Silk Commission has today reported on the second part of its remit (“Silk II”), examining the powers of the Assembly and recommending modifications to the Welsh devolution boundary. I have placed copies of the report in the Library of the House.
	The publication of today’s report concludes the work of the Silk Commission. I would like to thank the Commission for fulfilling its remit and for its commitment and hard work over the last two and a half years. I would like to pay tribute to the Commissioners, who have worked tirelessly and on an unpaid basis, and to Paul Silk, Chair of the Commission, for his dedication and leadership. The Commission has produced two thorough, well researched reports which I am sure history will record as important contributions to the development of devolution in Wales.
	I warmly welcome publication of the report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of devolution in Wales and makes recommendations for change which are thought provoking and thoroughly researched. The Government will now carefully consider in full each of the recommendations and their implications.
	This Government has a proud track record on devolution within a strong United Kingdom - devolving further powers to Scotland in the Scotland Act 2012, and in Wales providing for the 2011 referendum which resulted in the Assembly assuming primary law-making powers in all twenty devolved areas. The Wales Bill will take devolution a step further, devolving tax and borrowing powers to the Assembly and the Welsh Government for the first time, making those institutions more accountable to the people who elect them.
	The Silk II report proposes a clear course for the future, and makes recommendations which would broaden and deepen Welsh devolution further. I would like to set out how I see matters moving forward.
	There is now a little over twelve months remaining of this Parliament. This is insufficient time for the Government to implement any changes that would require primary legislation, given the degree of consideration that the Silk Commission's recommendations demand.
	Given the significant extent of the work now needed to be done, I do not consider the Wales Bill to be a suitable vehicle to implement the recommendations made in today’s report. I believe it is important that
	the Bill remains focused on delivering the devolution of tax and borrowing powers which the Government announced in November. The Government intends that these powers will be devolved to the Assembly and the Welsh Government well before the next Assembly elections in May 2016, subject to the successful parliamentary passage of the Bill. Adding additional measures to the Bill in relation to Assembly powers would inevitably delay the Bill’s progress and jeopardise this timetable.
	These will therefore be matters for the next Government and Parliament, and it will be for political parties to
	set out their proposals and intentions to the electorate. However, I can say now that we in Government will be taking a very positive approach to the Silk Commission’s work, in keeping with our proud record on devolution.
	For those recommendations that will not require primary legislation, we will consider early implementation during this Parliament if, after due consideration, we are satisfied that the case for the change is clearly made, there is a broad consensus in favour and it can be implemented quickly and easily.